“You saying I have the maturity of a ten-year-old?”
“She hasn’t said it for at least two years,” I deadpanned.
Pearce flipped me off, and I grinned wider.
“So what shouldn’t I be pissed off with?” I pushed.
The tip of his tongue darted out, and he licked his slightly swollen lip where he’d been gnawing. “I emailed Rick about the possibility of a trade.”
“What?” I sat bolt upright in my chair, heart hammering in my chest. “Where? Why?”
“Something close to home.”
My brows pulled tight as I shook my head. “I don’t understand. What am I missing?” The Eagles were situated within a perfect distance to his home, hence the reason he’d bought the house not long after we became friends.
“I’ve asked for the Jetts, or the next closest team.”
I snapped my mouth shut, pulling back, completely startled.
For the first time in a super long time, I was completely speechless. But fuck, my heart expanded, filled so much with love and affection and so much respect for Pearce that I struggled to contain the way it pounded against my ribcage.
“You…” I shook my head and blinked back tears. “I don’t know….” Fuck, my words wouldn’t form. How could they, when I was a certifiable mess of love and gratitude? I swallowed hard, my breath catching on a weird sort of choke that I should have been embarrassed about.
“Hey.” Pearce knelt before me, palms on my knees and concern in his gaze. “If I can make this happen, it’s a great thing.”
I nodded, my heart feeling the truth of his words. “And you’re okay with a possible move. Leaving the Eagles?”
“For you, absolutely.”
A fresh wave of emotion threatened to take me under. Clearing my throat, I stared at the man before me through a watery gaze. “Won’t you miss them?”
“Of course, but hell, I’ve only played with these guys. It’s not like a change won’t do me good, maybe help improve my game.” He cradled my cheek, and I leaned into his touch. “But I’ll miss you a hell of a lot more than my team if we don’t get to live with each other and call your place home.”
“You’re amazing.”
A smile lit up his face.
“Don’t stop.” He bounced his brows, finally tugging a chuckle from me.
“You are.” I frowned, admitting, “I feel like I should be stopping you and offering to move to you.”
“It’s a possibility,” he said carefully, stare never wavering from my face, “but we have to make sure Lottie’s at the center of every decision we make.”
“Fuck.”I clung to Pearce and dragged him into my arms. He straddled me, the chair creaking under our combined weight. “Thank you for being incredible.” My kiss followed, sweet and soft.
He sighed into the connection, opening his mouth and kissing me back, tangling his tongue with mine in a gentle, slow exploration. When he eased back, my head remained spinning, and I blinked open my eyes, absorbing the perfection of my fiancé.
“Am I right in thinking Lottie would struggle with the move?”
Wincing, I hesitated, earning me raised brows. “Maybe,” I admitted. It didn’t matter how confident my girl was, or that she was a whirlwind, she was still ten, and I’d do all I could to protect her. “On one hand, as long as she has us, I know she’ll be fine, but when Moira left… she struggled there for a time.”
Pearce nodded. “I remember.”
“I want her to have stability.”
“And already, me not being home all the time will be disruptive enough.”
“Well, maybe. But in fairness, she’s not used to you being around anyway. I haven’t really thought about it.”
